Guest Blogger: Emma from Chamomile & Peppermint

Hi Everyone,

My name is Emma from Chamomile & Peppermint and I have been lucky enough to be invited by Erin to share my recently renovated nursery created for my first child, a little girl, due next Tuesday!

I have been inspired many a time by the calming effects of the various shades of turquoise at The House of Turquoise, especially living by the ocean on the eastern coast of Australia. Upon finding out I was having a little girl couldn't resist the temptation to put together something really girly, but not too pink, in a space that would be both whimsical and calm. I love dusty vintage colours and fabrics, for things to be a little shabby and not too perfect and to give new life to old furniture and get crafty, there is not much that is new and plastic in here and I have spent a minimal amount of money and loads of satisfaction from the creative process.

The main colour I used was Taubmans "cosmic rays" at full strength. I then added accents of yellow, pink and a little red with the end result a bit like a candy shop! We also had great fun painting the floorboards white which really lightened up this dark little room. Kids rooms are so fun to do as you can go a little over the top.

I hope that you like the results and maybe can find some inspiration for a project of your own!

My mum made these sweet turquoise curtains.

I collected embroidery hoops from op-shops and hand-embroidered this one.

This was an awful old wardrobe with thin, veneer fronts to the doors that was peeling. I pushed out the veneer leaving the frames, stapled in this sweet Holly Hobby-ish material I found at the op-shop for $3, painted it white and bought the handles from e-bay. The bird cage I already had.

I hand-made this cute hot air-balloon mobile from scrapbooking paper.

My mum and sister re-vamped this old pine change table.

This high-chair was also sanded and painted complete with turquoise cushions that match the curtains.

You have read this article Guest Blogger / Nursery with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://kmn-radio.blogspot.com/2012/02/guest-blogger-emma-from-chamomile.html. Thanks!

Guest Blogger: Amanda from Dixie Delights

Hi Turquoise lovers - I'm Amanda from Dixie Delights. Growing up in coastal Savannah, the marsh and surrounding rivers were a part of my everyday life. Now that I'm firmly planted in Atlanta, memories of that life in the Lowcountry have become my muse. With that in mind, I'm positively thrilled to share the before and after pictures of a family room makeover inspired by a place I love so dearly.

Here's what the family room in our 1968 abode looked like on move in day...


...and, after a WHOLE lot of paint, hours of sewing projects and loads of furniture and accessories, here's where we are today!



Sources:
Paint - Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth (walls) and Benjamin Moore Alabaster (trim)
Curtains - Basha Dot (sadly, it's been discontinued)
Floor - unstained white oak
Rug - Indoor/Outdoor French Leopard by Ballard Designs

And for the close ups...



Custom mantle designed by me and built by contractors. Plates Butler's Pantry by Lenox. Antique girandoles from my grandmother. Gas logs by Real Fyre. Kid table from Michael's, chairs from Pottery Barn Kids and no-sew cloth cut by yours truly.


Chairs by Rowe. Silhouette pillows of my boys made by me. White throws from Ikea. Table lamp from local shoppe, floor lamp from Z Gallerie. Alphabet tray by John Derian, oyster plate by Alison Evans, antique books and pie crust table from family collection.


Table from Bombay, reproduction vintage phone from Pottery Barn, collection of books by Savannah authors, cloche with picture of boys and one bronzed baby shoe from each. Frames from Sugarboo Designs.

Bar with updated corbels. Bar height stools painted in trim color and covered with a pleated skirt. Fabric is Chatelet Breeze.

Chalk paint mirror in Annie Sloan's duck egg blue. Alison Evans oyster plates.

Antique curio holds collection of pictures and overflow from dining room china cabinet. Lamp from Stein Mart. Staffordshire dogs from Scott Antique Market, collection of books by Savannah authors, family silhouettes.

Atelier antlers from Ballard Designs. Antique buffet retrofitted to hold t.v. components. Aiden Gray candle holders.

Antiqued mirrored coffee table from Horchow. Lantern from DC2 in Savannah, arrangement from Scott Antique Market, oyster plate by Alison Evans, antique rice bowl from Paris Market, large clam shell from Pottery Barn, antique books, New Orleans Toile coasters from Hazelnut.



Banquette designed by me and built by contractors. Anne Hathaway able custom made for us with salvaged wood from Georgia plantation home. Lamp shades from Restoration Hardware, oyster plates by Alison Evans, pillows made by me and purchased from Ballard Designs and local boutique, baskets from Pottery Barn, signed print by Ray Ellis, other items collected.

So that's a tour of every inch of our den. A sincere thank you to Erin for inviting me to House of Turquoise (only one of my favorite reads!) today. Y'all come visit me at Dixie Delights any time!

Amanda

You have read this article Guest Blogger / Living Room with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://kmn-radio.blogspot.com/2012/02/guest-blogger-amanda-from-dixie-delights.html. Thanks!

Guest Blogger: Lesli from My Old Country House

Hi, This is Lesli from My Old Country House

and I am Honored and tickled teal (tee hee) to be Guest Hosting

the very first blog I ever chose to follow...

and one of my ALL TIME Favorite Blogs and Bloggers (Erin rocks!)

House of Turquoise.

As an aside..and as you know...life can change on a dime,

and yesterday I found myself on a airplane headed to my Dad's ICU bedside

(he is doing better)...

so as I sit here, listening to all the beeps...I will try to distract myself by

taking YOU on a virtual Tour of Turquoise

of My Old Country House, and let the pictures do the talking!!!

that is one of my favorite things about Erin's blog, the photos just make me weak at the knees...time after time after time...

the turquoise takes me DOWN!

I do not have to go far, in my house, to find turquoise...

in fact..it starts at the front door...

Benjamin Moore
"River Blue"

our foyer/entryway doubles as a good old fashioned "Mudroom"
and the focal pint is the first piece of furniture we bought for this house for
$50 - An Old Church Pew - painted Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint - "Provence".

The Living Room is sprinkled with touches of turquoise...the Chevron sofa...
the pillows...

The wing backs and the coffee table...

the Swedish Grandfather Clock..

the Eastlake dresser...I bought for $40 at a yard sale and painted Benjamin Moore "Calypso Blue"

...my French glass doo-dad holder on the mantle....

even my lap top cover...

...and "Gardenia"
I use Aqua paint in almost every single one of my paintings...

...and last weekend I scored for pocket change
and painted my new Dining Room sideboard
Benjamin Moore's
Shore House Green...

and my most recent painting "The White Dress"
The background is Martha Stewart's "Lagoon"
this color is TO DIE!

...But perhaps my favorite Aqua transformation,

...the room whose makeover made me the happiest...

is the striped Laundry Room...

The wall stripes in the Laundry Room are
Benjamin Moore's - "Mountain Peak White", "Ocean Air"
and the Doors are "Fairy Tale Blue"

...wanna hear something funny...those aren't even my initials...
I got the tote with it's random monogram
(and about 5 others) for $7.00 at the LLBean Outlet!!!

Thank you Erin for inviting me to be a Guest Blogger on

your wonderful blog and thank you readers for taking my

Tour of Turquoise

and we did not even go upstairs!!!!

If you would like to see more of

My Old Country House,

stop by anytime!

You have read this article Guest Blogger / Laundry Room / Painted Door with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://kmn-radio.blogspot.com/2012/02/guest-blogger-lesli-from-my-old-country.html. Thanks!

Four Chairs Furniture + Fun Stuff

I love a serene bedroom with beautiful linens, and this one photographed by Hiya Papaya and designed by Lindy Allens, owner of Four Chairs Furniture, is no exception! We've seen more colorful, pattern-filled parts of her home the last two days, so this hideaway is definitely a calm departure! I love the simple reminders of the coast, and those breezy bed linens!

A good way to end the week?? Celebrating another birthday! This time it's our four-legged, newest family member! Remember when we first brought her home?? She was so tiny!! Well today she's turning ONE! Happy Birthday, Gertie!

Can you handle that face?!

In other news, I'm heading out to LA on Sunday for the Design Bloggers Conference. I attended last year and had a blast, so I'm super excited. Are any of you attending?? I'll be back Thursday and have some great guest bloggers filling in for me until then!

Love turquoise? Visit my shopping blog Everything Turquoise...updated several times throughout the day! Check out Decor by Color for even more color-themed shopping!

You have read this article Bedroom / My Life with the title February 2012. You can bookmark this page URL http://kmn-radio.blogspot.com/2012/02/four-chairs-furniture-fun-stuff.html. Thanks!